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Haha OEM L28 sounds good to me with hot cam and big carbs Just buying out what stock Origin has in Japan at the moment haha

I'm still out of country not getting back until next week but I had these come through from depot during the packing of the container (which will be here shortly as well).. It's got a busted bottom end apparently, but block should still be OK. The boys also tell me it has a big cam but not sure spec on anything.

Haha cool, I think it used to have white 17s on it or something as well back in the day. No doubt it's had a hard life but it's still kicking! Had Ewan drive us there, that was my first trip over.

Maybe, I got it from somewhere like Taranaki, can't recall exactly where now. Was in a sad state when I got it.. manage to get it back on the road. Still not flash haha but it's a hoot to drive as well

Took the Skyline around the block to make sure all still working as it should be, rides a bit nicer on the new tyres compared to the cracked other ones so that's cool. Also did an Instagram walk around as hadn't done that yet. Got several puzzled looks in my short around the block journey haha, people can't work out what it is. https://www.instagram.com/p/BAEEuXSGbEx/?taken-by=mlracing_alex When I parked it up to open the garage it was in the right spot.. Squad.. with myself? haha I had a really good time just driving it around the block, it's made me excited for this year! Also the new woodgrain Nardi is so much nicer to use, perfect for the car.

I had some tyres that needed to be removed from the car because they had cracks all through them, surprised they hadn't blown out! Luckily I had some already from other wheels. All different brands/models because I like to live dangerously. Also the sizes slightly different (two 175, two 185) so put the 185's on the rear, naturally. While I was under the car I had a look at the rust and repair places that will need to be fixed up. Some really awesome Japanese typical body panel repair jobs involving urethane, silicone, cardboard (or plastic) and metal tape. Just the usual. The good thing (but maybe expensive) is that inner/outer sills are available as well as a couple other common failure points as repair parts. Not genuine Nissan of course but a couple restore companies are reproducing them which is excellent. They were all like this, and also had cracking inside the tread too. New (old) tyres on.. I think there are some from China and some from Korea, quality. So much room for activities. Bit of a shitty look at the stainless exhaust. It's loud. Hmm those could be a problem. I had a feeling it was on cut springs after driving it. The rear actually is captive so that should be OK, but the front is no bueno, will look at upgrade options because the shocks look pretty average too. Looks like a bolt missing from there... and interesting exhaust hanger situation. Talk: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/49704-mlracings-hakosuka/page-6#entry1631496

I reckon I'll just leave it as is until I eventually maybe get around to refurbing the whole grille area. Actually when I was showing someone the car earlier today it looks fine from about a foot away and chances of looking super close are slim.. there are much more important things to get onto first haha

Picked up this Nardi woodgrain wheel for a price I couldn't resist as was looking for something larger than the Momo that was on there in order to see the gauges properly (couldn't see water temp, somewhat important). With a bit of fettling it's on, and looks perfect. Feels really nice to hold, I've never had a woodgrain wheel before. Also took this opportunity to straighten the boss as the previous owner for whatever reason had the wheel on a slight angle which bugged me to no end. Now I need to get some repair parts for the centre console to get it back to it's former glory. When I took that photo from the driver's seat it reminded me of this one I took a little over 3 years ago at Rocky Auto: It was never a matter of IF I would own one.. but a matter of when! Discussion: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/49704-mlracings-hakosuka/page-6#entry1627841

That's not a bad idea. Initially I was thinking of something like vasoline or similar then I got lazy/thought I was better than I actually turned out to be haha

Arts and crafts time again! Something that was bothering me for ages is the N emblem on the front was all faded out. Picked up some basic model/craft paint during the week and thought I'd have a poke about and get it looking nicer. Turns out it looked way nicer just with a bit of a clean with some solvent.. but still not vivid enough for me. It took me ages to work out how I was going to do it with masking off so I could minimise the paint on the chrome. Ended up making a hash of it anyway but this is the first lot I did, and that turned out all good. Then this is the second lot and I couldn't figure out how to mask the inner bits so just gave up and made a mess. Quite a bit of the paint seemed to bleed through that paint tape but I managed to clean up the majority of it afterwards with some ear bud things and solvent. Finished product.. it's not super sharp around the edges but stand a few feet away and she's magic. Just brings that bit of something to the front where it was all silver/black before. Next I have to figure out the best way to refurbish the 2000GT badge on the front.. or maybe just leave it off for a while because I realised painting is quite hard. Also the front lip bugs me. I'm pretty sure it's warped somehow but it is flat on the bottom so hard to tell. Oh well, problem for another day. Discuss: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/49704-mlracings-hakosuka/page-6#entry1620756

You talking to me or other guy with choke issue? Pretty sure my choke is working ok

So I noticed something while test driving it yesterday (I had noticed before but didn't think much of it). When turning to the right at low speed or maybe off throttle/from a stand still it seems to bog or feel like it's being starved of gas for a short bit. Would it be something like the gas in the float bowl is just being pushed to one side where there isn't a jet?

Maybe a fruitless exercise but have you tried to put another gauge (aftermarket or otherwise) to see if it's a gauge issue?

PARTS PARTS PARTS PARTS! Old filter out, new filter in. Just as well Nissan still make parts for old Datsun trucks! Big up to Brdflu for hooking that up for us. Wow.. reasonable chance this is the OEM coil that came in the car when new. Could just be placebo but car feels easier to rev up to redline, still gutless but sounds sweet. Also at about 6k vibrations start to happen so that's as far as I went. Car did a shart. I was feeling all awesome about having installed the coil so went to crank it over.. after cranking over longer than probably should have the car didn't start. Hm.. quick glance out saw the coil lead sitting on top of the radiator, derp! After the engine got over the fact that it was now flooded it cranked up to life and business as usual. Discuss: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/49704-mlracings-hakosuka/page-6#entry1616009

Arts and crafts time! The black paint on these light surrounds was peeling off and looking a bit average so I decided to fix that. While I was there I painted the front grille as well, slightly differently to the OEM just to see how it would turn out. The reason I didn't just take out the honeycombs and the middle emblem is because everything was seized in. Being a Friday afternoon I didn't feel like fighting it so.. in it stayed. Finished! I didn't leave out the 2000GT badge on purpose, just forgot to put it back on haha. Probably leave it off though. I'd like to get in and polish the metal at some stage as it's quite cloudy and average but overall it's pretty average. Probably needs to go to some fancy metal guy to make it nice again. Oh, and need to paint the N in the middle of the badge red again as that's fully faded out. Discuss: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/49704-mlracings-hakosuka/page-6#entry1616009

Hahah that choke sounds amazing/terrible

Great news everyone, I'm an idiot! Full user error with regard to choke usage. Had a look just now, float has fuel in it so all good. Did the method kyteler suggested and boom fired up without any problem whatsoever. Thanks heaps! Full on manual choke noob here but learning! Yeah this Hitachi has a window I could check the level.

Cool I'll have a look today and see if I can determine if there is fuel in the float bowl still or if it's been drunk by aliens. One wonders if this was an issue right from manufacture and people just dealt with it because it was how it was at the time?

Yep, still getting used to the choke but slowly working it out. It could be a choke thing, just read an article now saying that if choke is not correctly used then some smoke may come out of the back for a few minutes, this does tend to happen. Could potentially be flooding it?

I'll have to work out how to take off the filter box then I can check that haha. But yeah good idea. There should be some sitting in there for the next start right? I usually pump the gas a few times and sometimes it pretends like it's gonna start then back to winding over without firing >_<

Got new fuel in it, although every chance there is gunk in there I guess from old fuel/running it low for shipping etc Rich just sent me this link - http://atlanticz.ca/zclub/techtips/distributor/index.html Seems pretty excellent, thoughts? With the fuel pump yeah that's true need to work out how to turn it off, I guess run a cut off with the ignition or similar.. hmm.. something down the track to check out anyway.

Installed new cap but still really difficult to start when cold, takes 5 mins at least of cranking, stop, check etc. Usually cranks after I get the battery jump pack so perhaps battery is poor. Or spark is poor from coil? Once warmed up she's all good. I've also learned some of the Z cars use an electric pump to prime the mechanical one, could be a fuel problem perhaps taking too long for fuel to get to the mechanical pump as I'm pretty sure no electric pump in this. This is what the dizzy looks like, guessing still points? Sorry, old old car stuff is still new to me. I've read about the ignition upgrade and some people are saying use later 280ZX distributor and some other bits, still not quite confident on what's required there.. more research required. Also, quick vid of idle when it's warm. Sitting around 900rpm here, not super smooth though >_< https://vid.me/qTDu I'll look at a new coil next because not sure when depot one will arrive/it's not new anyway. Discuss: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/49704-mlracings-hakosuka/page-5#entry1613852

There's a David Story Motors in Albany.. wonder if same guy?

Hmm.. will investigate, I have heard of this upgrade before. Nah there's some proper repairs required. Will get more detail when I actually take it in though.

With a sunny day like today I thought it high time I got cracking on with some easy stuff. Plugs and leads is something even I can do.. of course needed a bit of coffee to get the brain working. Yipes, this coil's seen some shit. Lucky I have another on the way. In typical Japanese fashion the engine bay is super dirty. I forgot to take an after but the bonnet is now significantly less lubricated. Installed new NGK leads and plugs. The lead to the coil was a bit long as you can see, just cable tied it out of the way of the radiator fan more than anything. I love how the leads are numbered for idiots like me! One of these things is not like the other haha. Who's good at reading plugs? How does it look? After I changed the plugs/leads it was running like a bag of dicks missing and shit so I took off the dizzy cap and the points were super corroded. Bit of sandpaper and it runs mean now but I've got another cap due to arrive any day now anyway. Also took a quick vid on Instagram, so much excitement and noise to get to speed limit. It's a real event! https://instagram.com/p/9uxtRrmbK4/?taken-by=mlracing_alex Tbh I'm just beaming cause I did a thing and it made a difference Discuss: //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/49704-mlracings-hakosuka/page-4#entry1609566